Reading Specialist

Mrs. Gail Block

Kindergarten - 3rd grade Reading Specialist

About Mrs. Block:

I’m a proud educator with over 30 years of experience across Arizona, dedicated to nurturing young learners and supporting fellow educators. Over the years, I’ve taught third, fifth, and seventh grade ELA, served as a reading specialist, and worked as a literacy instructional coach supporting teachers from kindergarten through 8th grade. These diverse roles have shaped my passion for literacy and the foundational role it plays in a child’s academic journey.

I hold a dual undergraduate degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Keene State College, and a master’s degree in Human Relations Counseling/Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. I also carry endorsements in K–12 Reading, Early Childhood Development, and Middle Grades Education.

Though I’m relatively new to working in DVUSD, my family has long been connected to the district—my husband retired from teaching here in 2023, and our son is a proud graduate of SDOHS. These personal ties have given me a well-rounded perspective and a deep appreciation for the Deer Valley community and its commitment to excellence.

Outside the classroom, I enjoy reading, traveling to new corners of the world, practicing yoga, and hiking Arizona’s beautiful trails. Above all, I am passionate about helping our early learners discover both the power and the joy of reading.

 

Classroom Phone	Email
(623) 445-4702

E-Books

Have you already read all of the books at your house? Don't worry! There are many online resources available with thousands of free e-books on every topic imaginable! Try the links below for some fun online books.

• Starfall Recommended for K-2 readers
• Tumblebooks is available for free from the Phoenix Public Library

How to Find a Book's Reading Level

Are you having a hard time finding books that are a good fit for your child's reading ability? We are here to help with that! There are two easy ways for parents to find the level of any book.

Scholastic Book Wizard

This digital tool allows you to scan the barcode of any book and provides you with a level in several different formats. If you know your child's reading level from his/her teacher, you can use this tool to check the level of nearly any book. 

1. Go to bookwizard.scholastic.com 
2. Use the website’s search box function to type the name of any book.
3. Click on the title of the book and look under Product Details (right side) for the ACR Level.  

• The ACR level shows a grade level equivalent as the grade number first, then the period is which month of that grade. For example, level 3.1 would be 3rd Grade, 1st month (August) or level 1.4 would be 1st grade, 4th month (November).
• The grades section aligns to interest level, not to the book's difficulty.
• If there is no ACR level, use this chart to help you understand the other level options

The 5 Finger Rule

The 5 finger rule is a simpler method for helping students select books that are just right for their level. 

Here’s how it works: Your child opens a book to the first page. They read the page and hold up one finger for every word they don’t know or can’t pronounce. The number of fingers they’re holding up by the end of the page tells them if the book is the right level:

• 0-1 fingers: It’s too easy.
• 2-3 fingers: It’s just right.
• 4-5 fingers: It’s too hard (or best read aloud with a buddy)

Source: Scholastic

In the Deer Valley Unified School District, all Kindergarten through third grade students are assessed using the DIBELS 8th Edition screener in August, December and May.

The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) 8th Edition are a set of procedures and measures for assessing the acquisition of early literacy skills from kindergarten through eighth grade. They are designed to be short (one minute) fluency measures used to regularly monitor the development of early literacy and early reading skills.

DVUSD also utilizes DIBELS assessment for progress monitoring to determine if students are making growth in their reading skills and to make instructional decisions. DIBELS often tells teachers whether or not their teaching has been effective for that student and provides direction on what reading struggles a student may be experiencing. Progress monitoring assessments are utilized every 2-3 weeks for any student who is not reading at grade level.  

At Desert Sage, we send home a Home Connect Report in August, December, and May which details your child’s scores and gives strategies for areas of support. Your child’s teacher or Mrs. Block can also provide any progress monitoring scores from throughout the school year. 
For more information about DIBELS 8th edition, click here.

 

Move On When Reading (MOWR) is an Arizona State Law that utilizes the state test AASA (formerly AZMerit, AZM2, & AIMS) to determine if 3rd grade students are reading at a proficient level and should be promoted to 4th grade. The following information was excerpted from Read On Arizona's website.

The “Move On When Reading” policy, a combination of A.R.S. §15-701, A.R.S. §15-704, and A.R.S. §15-211 laws, requires that a student not be promoted from third grade to fourth grade if he or she “does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills” on the state’s third grade reading test. “Does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills” indicates that the child is reading at a much lower level than is expected of a third grader and needs additional help.

The purpose of the policy is designed to promote early identification and intervention for children with reading challenges so that they are at or above grade level by the end of third grade.

What Schools are Required to Do:

Arizona law A.R.S.§15-704 states that districts or charters are required to:

• Have a comprehensive K-3 assessment system
• Provide for universal screening of pupils in preschool through third grade programs to identify students who have reading difficulties
• Have an evidence-based reading curriculum
• Provide explicit instruction and intensive intervention
• Send out an annual written notice to K-3 parents about the policy
• Send a second letter to students scoring “well below” on assessments throughout the year

For parents of students that have been identified as having difficulties with reading, a separate written notification is sent that includes:

• Description of current reading services provided to pupil
• Description of supplemental services to be provided
• Parental strategies to assist student in attaining reading proficiency
• Retention statement and explanation of exemption policy

At Desert Sage, these notifications are provided either at your child's parent-teacher conference (both fall & spring if applicable) and right before winter break.